Support for window accessories



Dec. 30, 1941-. J. A. WEBER SUPPORT FOR WINDOW ACCESSORIES Filed April'7, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Joh n Q. we be r Dec. 30, 1941. J.A. WEBER 2,268,362

SUPPORT FOR WINDOW ACCESSORIES I I Filed April 7, 1939 a Sheets-Sheet 2fiVAlh. W h

INVENTOR.

Jo'hri 1Q. webs r' Dec. 30, 1941. J. A. WEBER SUPPORT FOR WINDOWACCESSORIIES Filed April 7, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

I, b E ebm m 0 A n m .J

Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORT FOR WINDOWACCESSORIES John A. Weber, Detroit, Mich.

Application April 7, 1939, Serial No. 266,643

3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to fixtures of the type employed inassociation with windows or the like for supporting various accessoriesin relation to the window and is a continuation in part of my copendingapplication Serial No 720,865, filed April 16, 1934.

Heretofore considerable inconvenience has been experienced in arrangingfixtures upon the supporting structure adjacent the window opening sothat the various accessories will not only be supported in properrelation to each other as well as the window, but will also present aneat and pleasing appearance. This problem of properly fitting a windowwith accessories of the foregoing character is greatly aggravated by thewide variation of window sizes and also by the numerous diiferent typesof drapery supporting instrumentalities.

It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of this invention tosimplify and expedite assembly of the several accessories in relation towindows, as well as to enhance the general appearance of the assembly byproviding a fixture constructed to form a common anchorage for each ofthe various accessories. This arrangement not only obviates thenecessity of providing separate attaching fixtures for each of theaccessories but, in addition, provides for more rigidly securing theaccessories in place.

Another advantageous feature of this invention resides in the provisionof a fixture constructed to permit securing any one of a number ofdifferent types of accessories thereto without altering, or otherwiseinterfering with the design of the fixture. This feature is ofimportance, since it permits standardizing the fixture without placingany definite restrictions on the particular type of accessoriesemployed.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a fixturewhich, in addition to being equipped with means for supporting any oneor all of the accessories in proper relationship to the window, is alsoprovided with means rendering it possible to adjustably support atieback in operative relation to suitable drapery.

Still another object of the present invention consists in the provisionof a fixture of the type previously set forth embodying shade supportingelements capable of being reversed to permit supporting the shades atdifferent distances laterally with respect to th window.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the novel meansprovided for quickly detachably securing the shade supporting elementsin either of the two positions thereof set forth in the precedingparagraph.

In addition to the foregoing, the present in ventlon contemplates afixture comprising a plate in the form of a sheet metal stamping havingprojections stamped therefrom and cooperating with each other toremovably secure one end of a curtain rod or other accessory to thefixture.

The foregoing, as well as other objects, will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds, especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure -1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inner side of awindow equipped with fixtures constructed in accordance with thisinvention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the line 4-4 of Fige 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the planeindicated by the line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on theplane indicated by the line 66 of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a detailed perspective view of one of the shade supportingelements;

Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of the cooperating shadesupporting element;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form ofconstruction;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of a further embodiment of thisinvention;

Figure 11 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the line lI-H of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is an elevational View of a further modification of theinvention;

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the line I3-l3 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is an elevational view of still another form of the presentinvention;

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane indicatedby the line 15-5 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a plan view of the construction shown in Figure 14.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and with special referenceto the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 8,inclusive, it will be noted that I have shown a portion of a window 20in Figure 1 having right and left-hand accessory supporting fixtures 2|and 22. The right-hand fixture 2| is identical in construction to theleft-hand fixture 22, with the exception that the shade supportingbracket 23, associated with the fixture 2|, differs from the shadesupporting bracket 24 mounted on the fixture 22 in that the former isfashioned to effect winding of the shade spring when the shade is drawnand the latter merely serves as a bearing or support for the shade.

In general, each of the fixtures is especially constructed to not onlydetachably support a shade supporting bracket but, in addition, co-

operates with one another to support a plurality of curtain rods 25 and2B in a common plane with respect to the window 20. Also, each fixtureembodies means for supporting a drapery tieback member 21 and a draperysupporting rod 28.

In view of the similarity between the two fixtures and the manner inwhich the latter support the several window accessories, a descriptionof the right-hand fixture 2| is believed sufficient for a thoroughunderstanding of the present invention. In detail, the fixture 2|comprises a plate 29 in the form of a sheet metal stamping having aportion 30 bent at right angles to the plate for engagement with oneside of the window opening to position the fixture relative to thewindow opening and adapted to be secured in place by means of suitablescrews 3|. Upon reference to Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, it will be notedthat the sheet metal plate 29- is provided with two pairs of lugs 32 and33 stamped outwardly from the plate to assume positions in side by siderelationship at the same elevation. The pair of lugs 32 cooperate witheach other and with the portion of the plate 29 between the lugs to forma socket of sufficient dimension to receive one end of the curtain rod25. The end aforesaid of the curtain rod is upset to provide an enlargedreturn bent portion 34 cooperating with the lugs 32 to retain thecurtain rod in assembled relation with the plate 28. As shown in Figure4, the lower ends of the pair of lugs 32 are fashioned with divergingportions spaced from each other a distance less than the diameter of thereturn bent head portion 34 on the curtain rod so as to form a stop tolimit the extent of downward movement of the rod relative to the plate29. The other pair of lugs 33 is identical in construction andcooperates with the upset end 35 on the curtain rod 26 to secure thesame in position on the plate 29 in the same manner described inconnection with the lugs 32. It will, of course, be understood that thenumber of pairs of cooperating lugs may vary in dependence upon thenumber of curtain rods it is desired to support on the plate or fixtureand the number selected fOr the purpose of illustration should not beconstrued as limiting the present invention.

Inasmuch as the cooperating pairs of lugs 32 and 33 are located at thesame elevation on the plate 29, it necessarily follows that the twocurtain rods are supported in a common horizontal plane. In the presentinstance, the drapery supporting rod 28 is shown as supported from theplate 29 in a common plane with the curtain rods. The drapery supportingrod is shown in Figure 3 as having a longitudinal portion 36 extendingparallel to the curtain rods and having an angularly inwardly extendingportion 31 terminating in a downwardly projecting part 38 supported onthe fixture. In this connection, it will be noted from Figures 2 to 4,inclusive, that the sheet metal stamping or plate 29 is fashioned with alaterally outwardly extending bracket portion 39 having the top andbottom edge portions bent laterally to form vertically spaced flanges 40and 4|. The flanges are disposed in parallel planes perpendicular to theplane of the plate 29 and, if desired, are provided with tabs 42 at thefree ends thereof spot-welded to the plate or stamping 29. Referringmore particularly to Figure 3 of the drawings, it will be noted that theupper flange 40 is provided with a slot 43 therethrough of sufficientdimension to slidably receive the downwardly projecting part 38 on thedrapery supporting rod 28. The lower flange 4| is fashioned with a slot44 of less dimension for receiving a projection 45 depending from thelower end of the part 38 and providing a shoulder 46 adapted to rest onthe upper surface of the flange 4| to position the drapery supportingrod relative to the fixture.

In the event that it is desired to provide a tieback for the draperysuspended from the rod 28, the flanges 40 and 4| may be formed withaligned openings therethrough for receiving the member 21. In thisconnection, it will be noted from Figure 3 that the opening through theflange 40 is of less diameter than the opening through the flange 4| andis threaded for detachably engaging a threaded reduced portion 41 at theupper end of the member 21. Any suitable means (not shown herein) may beslidably supported on the member 2! for engaging the drapery. andthereby serving as a tieback for the latter. In this connection, it mayalso be pointed out that the top edge of the drapery supporting bar 28is corrugated in the manner designated by the reference character 48 tofacilitate positioning the usual drapery suspending rings in the eventthe latter are employed and, in addition, to hold the drapery in placeon the bar 28.

It has also been stated above that provision is made for supporting ashade on the fixtures 2| and 22. For accomplishing this result, eachfixture is provided with a pair of opposed elongated lugs 50 struckoutwardly from the stamping and cooperating with each other and with theouter surface of the stamping to slidably receive one of the shadesupporting brackets. The fixture 2| supports the shade supportingbracket 23, shown in Figure 8 as having an elongated portion 5| and aright angular portion 52. The elongated portion 5| is slidably engagedwith the lugs 50 and is shown in Figure 6 as having spring fingers 53and 54 spaced from each other in the direction of length of the portion5|. The spring finger 53 is provided with a projection 55 successivelyengageable in the notches or openings 56 formed in the stamping 29between the lugs 58 when the bracket 23 is in the full line positionshown in Figure 6. The spring finger 54, on the other hand, is providedwith an oppositely extending projection 51 successively engageable inthe same notches 56 when the bracket 23 is in its reverse position shownby the dotted lines in Figure 6.

The above arrangement is such as to permit the bracket 23 to be adjustedrelative to the fixture in either of the two positions thereof tocompensate for shades of different length. In

this connection, it will be noted that the projections on the springfingers are shaped to provide for camming the fingers outwardly independence upon sliding movement of the bracket 23 in either directionrelative to the stamping or plate 29. It may be pointed out at this timethat the bracket 24, shown in Figure 7, is adapted to be adjustablymounted on the fixture 22 in exactly the same manner as described abovein connection with the bracket 23.

Referring again to Figure 6, it will be noted that when the bracket 23is in its full line position shown in this figure, the angularlyextending portion 52 projects inwardly toward the window and,accordingly, in the reverse position of the bracket, the portion 52projects outwardly. In this connection, it will be noted from Figure 8that the portion 52 is fashioned with a pair of vertically spaced slots58 and 59, respectively, re-

ceiving the conventional flattened or ratchet end of the shade to insuresupporting the shade at the same elevation, irrespective of which of thetwo positions the bracket assumes relative to the window. It may also bepointed out at this time that the portion 60 of the angularly extendingflange 52 on the fixture 23 located between the slots projects beyondthe entrant ends of the slots and is enlarged in width at the extremityto such an extent as to prevent accidental disengagement of theassociated end of the shade from the bracket 23, but at the same time isnot of sufficient width to obstruct insertion of the latter end in theslots. The angularly extending portion SI of the bracket 24 is fashionedwith two openings 62 and 63 for respectively receiving the opposite endof the shade to effectively support the latter at the proper elevationin either position of the bracket.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 9 differs from theconstruction previously described in that the drapery supporting rod andtieback member are mounted on a bracket 64 formed separately from thestamping or plate 29 and preferably being substantially U-shaped. Thefree ends of the leg portions of 1,

11 differs principally from the first described form of this inventionin the manner in which the shade supporting bracket is mounted on thefixture. As shown in the above figures, a pair of opposed lugs 6'! and68 are struck outwardly from the stamping or plate 29 and cooperate withthe stamping to slidably receive the body portion 69 of the shadesupporting bracket. However, in the present instance, the shadesupporting bracket is held in any one of its various adjusted positionsby means of a set screw Ill threadedly supported on the body portion 69of the bracket and frictionally engaging the portion of the stamping 29located between the lugs 61 and 68. 2

Also, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 10 and11, the tabs 42, shown in Figure 4, are eliminated from the fianges 4&and M In lieu of the flanges 42, lugs 10 are struck out from thestamping 29 and are welded to the flanges adjacent the free endsthereof.

'With the above exceptions, the fixture is identical to the fixtureillustrated in the first embodiment of this invention.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 12 and 13, I haveillustrated a fixture wherein the stamping 28 is provided with agenerally H-shaped portion H struck outwardly from the stamping tocooperate with the adjacent face of the stamping to slidably receive theshade supporting bracket. As shown in Figure 12, the H-shaped portionextends longitudinally and the bar 12 thereof is extruded to form aninternally threaded hub 13. A set screw 14 is threaded in the hub 13with the free end thereof frictionally engaging the shade supportingfixture to hold the latter in any one of its several adjusted positions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 14 to 16, inclusive,I have shown a fixture formed of a die casting and capable of supportingthe accessories previously described in connection with the foregoingmodifications. In this construction, a pair of lugs and '16 are cast onthe fixture to respectively support the curtain rods l1 and 13. The lugforms a substantially semi-circular shaped socket adapted to receiveanenlarged head 19 on the outer curtain rod supporting element in a mannerto retain the supporting element 88 and associated curtain rod inassembled relation with the fixture. The lug 16 is of identical shape toreceive the enlarged head 8| of the inner curtain rod supporting element82 and cooperates with the latter to hold the inner curtain rod on thefixture. In this connection, it will be noted that the curtain rodsupporting element 80 is of a length greater than the element 82 toenable the use of interchangeable curtain rods for both the inner andouter positions. In other words, by employing the supporting elements 89and 82 previously described, it is not necessary to provide curtain rodsof different size in order to support one within the other.

If desired, the fixture may also be cast with an enlargement 83 havingprovision in the form of a threaded opening 84 for detachably receivinga drapery tieback member and, in addition, the enlargement may be formedwith a slot 85 for supporting a drapery supporting bar.

Also, if desired, provision may be made on the fixture for supporting ashade, as evidenced by the fact that in Figure 15 I have shown thefixture as cast with a longitudinally extending recess 86 thereinadapted to telescopically receive the body portion 31 of a shadesupporting bracket similar to the one shown in Figures 1 to 8,inclusive, except that the spring fingers are eliminated. In the presentinstance, a threaded hub 88 is cast on the fixture for receiving a setscrew 89 having the free end frictionally engaging the portion 81 of thebracket to hold the latter in any one of its several adjusted positions.

It will be observed from the foregoing that each of the severalembodiments of the present invention, selected herein for the purpose ofillustration, features a fixture having provision for readily supportinga plurality of window accessories thereon in proper relationship to awindow. It will also be noted that the present invention illustrates themanner in which the fixture may be formed entirely from sheet metalstampings or may be die cast. In addition, it will be apparent from theforegoing that irrespective of whether the fixture is fashioned from asheet metal stamping or is die cast, the same is of simple compactconstruction capable of being inexpensively manufactured and readilyinstalled.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A fixture for use in supporting window accessories in predeterminedrelation to a window, comprising a sheet metal stamping in the form of aplate having lugs struck outwardly therefrom cooperating to form asocket open at the top for receiving one end of a window accessory andhaving inwardly extending portions at the bottom forming a stop forengagement with said end of the window accessory, additional elongatedlugs struck outwardly from the plate and cooperating with the plate toform a guide, a bracket having a portion slidably engaging the guide andhaving another portion for supporting a second window accessory on theplate, and vertically spaced flanges projecting laterally from the plateand provided with aligned openings for receiving a' third windowaccessory element equipped with a shoulder adapted to rest on one of theflanges to support the latter window accessory element on said plate.

2. A fixture for use in supporting window accessories in predeterminedrelation to a window, comprising a sheet metal stamping in the form of aplate having lugs struck outwardly therefrom cooperating to form asocket open at the top for receiving and retaining one end of a windowaccessory on the plate and having inwardly extending portions at thebottom forming a stop for engagement with said end of the windowaccessory, additional elongated lugs struck outwardly from the plate andcooperating with the latter to form a horizontal guide, a bracket havinga portion slidably engaging the guide and having another portion forsupporting one end of a second window accessory on the plate, and a.second bracket demountably supported on the plate and having provisionfor supporting additional window accessories on said plate.

3. A fixture for use in supporting window accessories in predeterminedrelation to a window, comprising a sheet metal stamping in the form of aplate having lugs struck outwardly therefrom cooperating to form asocket for receiving and retaining one end of a window accessory on theplate, additional elongated lugs struck outwardly from the plate andcooperating with the latter to form a guide, a bracket having a portionslidably engaging the guide and having another portion for supportingone end of a second accessory on the plate, a second substantiallyU-shaped bracket having laterally projecting lugs at the free ends ofthe leg portions thereof demountably held in assembled relation in theplate by straps struck outwardly from the plate, and means on theopposed legs of the U-shaped bracket for supporting an additional windowaccessory.

JOHN A. WEBER.

